Nigerian National Petroleum Company Denies Explosion at Port Harcourt Refinery

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has refuted reports of an explosion at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State. In a statement issued on March 19, 2025, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, clarified that the incident was a flare event, not an explosion, and assured that it had been fully contained. He emphasized that there was no danger or health hazard to staff, surrounding communities, or the environment. Soneye urged the media and the public to disregard any reports suggesting an explosion at the refinery, describing them as entirely false.

The clarification came after a video emerged online showing a fire at a section of the refinery, leading to widespread speculation about an explosion. NNPCL promptly addressed the misinformation, stating that the fire was a controlled flare incident, a routine process in refinery operations, and that all sections of the recently rehabilitated plant remained operational.

This incident follows the recent resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt refinery, which had been under rehabilitation for an extended period. In November 2024, NNPCL announced that the refinery had commenced production of petroleum products, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to enhance domestic refining capacity.

NNPCL’s swift response underscores its commitment to transparency and public safety, aiming to dispel any misconceptions and maintain public confidence in the operations of the Port Harcourt Refining Company.